A former restaurant worker will deny historic sexual offences involving underage girls alleged by police following an investigation into child grooming and sexual exploitation.

Ramsey Ramsey, 78, from Newton, Chester, who had a long association with a city centre Indian restaurant, told The Chronicle he will plead not guilty to all 21 charges which include indecent assault, rape and sexually exploiting a child.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place in Chester and Southport between 1989 and 2000. Charges relate to three girls, aged 12 to 15 at the time.

Ramsey, who is a well-known face in the Chester hospitality trade, said: “When they charged me, I said ‘I deny all the charges’. I hope people don’t judge me until they know all the facts. It’s all very upsetting and embarrassing.”

Ramsey, who is originally from the Lebanon in the Middle East, said he had received a lot of support from people who had rung him. He also praised the police for the way they had treated him.

Ramsey said he had not worked full time in the restaurant trade for about three years but had recently helped out his former employers on a casual basis. However, Ramsey said he would ‘finish now’ as he prepares to fight to clear his name.